Young rooster for a breeder?

[gamelife]

I have this rooster, 3 months old. I would like to put him with a couple of hens and get some chicks out of them this coming season. The hens/pullets will be ready they are now 6 months old. Do you guys think he will still be too young come Jan. or Feb? What's the youngest brood rooster you've ever had?
I don't usually like to use a young rooster for breeding, but he is growing
to be a beautiful bird.

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
I think he will be fine by feb. mine started to mate at 5 month old..

 

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
It can be done as early as 5 months, however you will want to watch him closely and make sure he does loose valued traits or develop undesired traits as he fully matures and after his first molt. I do not like to use cockrells in matings but at times have had to. It has worked out and it has bit me in teh back end both.

 

[gamelife]

Quote:
It can be done as early as 5 months, however you will want to watch him closely and make sure he does loose valued traits or develop undesired traits as he fully matures and after his first molt. I do not like to use cockrells in matings but at times have had to. It has worked out and it has bit me in teh back end both.

I have never bred from a young rooster, always an older one. I have heard that a young cockeral may produce small offpring. Can you list any pros and cons?

 

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
It can be done as early as 5 months, however you will want to watch him closely and make sure he does loose valued traits or develop undesired traits as he fully matures and after his first molt. I do not like to use cockrells in matings but at times have had to. It has worked out and it has bit me in teh back end both.

I have never bred from a young rooster, always an older one. I have heard that a young cockeral may produce small offpring. Can you list any pros and cons?

the offspring are no smaller, you just do not know how the stags will actually finish out. If you are trying to set good body traits, color, and feather traits breeding from cockrells is not really a good idea. you are better off waiting to see how he finishes at 12-18 months. Rather than discard and entire hatching season because teh breeder male was inferior when finished.
I don't know what traits you are working towards so I can't be of much help in specific areas.

 

[gamelife]

He is a dark BB red american game roo. The hens I have come from a family of dark red roosters. I want
to keep this trait and keep them pure. I love the dark red/burgundy color in fowl. As for genetics they are a perfect match and he is not related to the girls. Breeding season is still some time away so I still
might not breed them. More of an idea then a plan.

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
we want pics...

 

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
If you are breeding for color and I assume body, go ahead and try him come spring, it would be a test mating while waiting for him to truly finish and mature. You will know then if you need to cull him and keep a cockrell to place back over your hens later or just get a better male and have plenty of good meals. Its just a gamble until you know what you have but nothing really lost if you enjoy eating chicken.

 

[gamelife]

I don't have any recent pics, I'll take some more soon. These pics are from 3 weeks ago.
A little over 2 months old.

Another pic of the girls with their brother(not the best picture).

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
Nice...